Happy on top of the world
When the going gets tough, a nature-loving revenue clerk laces up her boots.
Not even the rain could dampen Happy Mashinini’s feeling of accomplishment when she stood atop Mount Kilimanjaro at 5 895m above sea level.
The adventurous mother of two, a revenue clerk at Carnival City Casino, is revelling in her latest achievement.
“I started hiking in 2019 at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve because it’s fun and keeps me fit. It is great exercise and a fun way to stay connected with nature. Hiking is meditative and relaxing,” Mashinini said.
Her group of eight people train by hiking 10km to 20km every weekend.
She was compelled to hike Mount Kilimanjaro after climbing the highest mountain in SA in March, Mafadi in the Drakensberg.
“We then challenged ourselves to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak.”
The group arrived in Tanzania on September 11, started the five-day trek the following morning and summited on Friday.
“The day we summited was interesting because we departed at 03:00 and reached the peak at 10:30. We walked ‘pole pole’, which means ‘slowly, slowly’ in Swahili, for seven hours and reached the top of Kilimanjaro.
“It was challenging because some of our members experienced altitude sickness. But the proud feeling of having done something difficult made it all worthwhile.”
Back home, balancing work and life has Mashinini managing her time by prioritising tasks.
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“I ensure I allocate enough time for work responsibilities and personal pursuits, such as spending time with family, engaging in hobbies or pursuing personal goals,” she said.
Her next goal also involves hiking by climbing the highest mountain in South America, Aconcagua, or Mount Everest in the Himalayas between Nepal and Tibet.
“Hiking teaches you to endure, to never quit even when it is no longer easy and you are unsure if you can continue.
“Somehow, you maintain and strengthen your resolve. I have learnt so much about myself and am proud to say I went after my dreams.”
